National’s The Lehman Trilogy Transfers to the Piccadilly Theatre

Monday, 22nd Oct 2018

Back in July, audiences at the South Bank’s Lyttelton National Theatre were treated to the English-language version of Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, with Simon Russell Beale in a lead role. Telling the story of the rise of the Lehman Brothers, it has proven to be a high profile hit for the venue, which saw stage and screen legend Sam Mendes directing from Ben Power’s script.

That production continues until 20th October 2018, but those unable to see it before its closure at the National Theatre will be happy to know that it will be returning to London in 2019. It has been revealed that the production will run at the Piccadilly Theatre from May 2019 and that the cast of Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles and Adam Godley, amongst others, will return.

First seen in 2015, The Lehman Trilogy chronicles the history of the Lehman Brothers, starting at their beginnings in the mid-19th century and continuing across the decades and through the generations. It opens in September 1844 with a young man arriving in New York from Bavaria and ends with the financial crisis of 2008, which saw the firm’s collapse.

It began life as an Italian-language production, with Ben Power adapting the script into its current form. Power has adapted previous shows for the National Theatre like Emperor & Galiean and Medea.

And the presence of Simon Russell Beale will ensure that this is another high profile West End production. As well as appearing in The Lehman Trilogy at the National Theatre (and in New York, where it transfers prior to its West End engagement), he has also appeared in Temple at the Donmar Warehouse, Privates On Parade at the Noël Coward Theatre and Collaborators at the National Theatre, amongst many others. He is also well known for appearances on the screen.

The Lehman Trilogy continues at the Lyttelton National Theatre until Saturday 20th October 2018. It then runs in New York before returning to London with a brief stint at the West End’s Piccadilly Theatre from 11th May 2019.

Chris Packer

Chris Packer has been writing about the West End for many years and wishes this knowledge would help him win some pub quizzes. When he’s not writing about the newest shows he’s probably watching films or anticipating the latest releases.